The economies of the two provinces are closely linked, Notley said, with billions of dollars worth of goods crossing the B.C.-Alta. border each day.

Nevertheless, she said, her government owes it to Albertans to do everything in its power to defend this province’s jobs and economic security.

“We will not waver in this fight,” she said.

The emergency cabinet meeting comes the day after B.C. proposed a restriction on bitumen shipment increases from Alberta until more spill response studies are conducted.

That announcement was aimed at Kinder Morgan’s pending $7.4-billion pipeline expansion from Alberta to the West Coast, which was approved in 2016 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Horgan's NDP government wants to establish an independent scientific advisory panel to make recommendations whether heavy oils can be safely transported and cleaned up.

B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman said there needs to be more confidence in how well oil transporters are prepared to mitigate the effects of a spill.

Saskatchewan throws support behind Alberta

In an online statement, newly minted Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe jumped in to defend Alberta, saying his government is onside with Notley.

Moe accused the B.C. NDP of “playing politics” at the risk of thousands of Canadian jobs, future infrastructure projects and investor confidence in the energy industry.

“There are stringent regulatory processes and requirements for pipelines in both the U.S. and Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan is confident that the proposed pipelines can be constructed and operated in a manner that protects the environment and public health and safety,” he wrote.